Mauni Amavasya is the annual day of silence. A day of speech fasting and silence feasting.

Meaning: Mauna means the silence of the manas (mind, thought and senses). Amavasya refers to the new moon. "Ama" means dark and "vasya" means the lowly desires. Amavasya's (new moon) are special days in lunar calendar that are ideal for self-reflection (atma-vichara), purification (shodhana) and self-study (swa-adhyaya).

A constant practitioner of silence, one who is in inner silence (maintaining a constant connection to Self), irrespective of mental, emotional, and external turbulences is called a Muni.

Symbolic Meaning: This day symbolizes the quieting of the lowly desires and upholding of the dharma celebrated by Yogis/inis and Sadhakas. A very special day for mental and emotional purification.

Esp. those who are sincere practitioners of Yoga and subtle yoga like mediation, yoga nidra, mantra japa etc. try to practice at least half day of silence.

Silence is observed at the level of speech, senses, gestures, and action. From the silence of the manas/mind, one gives birth to Swayambhu (one's own purified Self). People also take a dip in the holy river Ganges as soaking in water symbolizes purification.

Yoga Vasishtha (Yogic text) talks about 4 types of Mauna (silence):

1. Vak Mauna- abstaining from verbal and nonverbal communication

2. Indriya Mauna- sensory silence through withdrawal through meditative practices, pratyahara, shavasana, manasa japa

3. Kaastha Mauna- strict silence which include not only the above two but also avoiding reading, any screen time and writing

4. Sushupta Mauna- the conscious awareness of the silence in deep dreamless sleep. It is the kind of silence that realized beings expense in the state of turiya(samadhi) as a result of Yogic practices like Yoga Nidra overtime.

How to practice Mauna:

• Practice Yoga Nidra
• Practice Mental Japa of a chosen mantra
• Focus on touch of breath without manipulating it
• Walking meditation
• Welcome the feeling of boredom, frustration (if it arises)
• Redirect thoughts, emotions etc. when they arise to breath, mental japa, self-guided relaxation

What you must avoid when in Mauna:

• Talk
• Gesture
• Screen time (any type)
• Read
• Write
• Practice movement-based asanas, vigorous pranayama (apart from nadi shodhana), audible chanting
• Drawing/coloring/journaling
• Listen to any kind of audio

May this day become the birth of a new you through the silencing of the vikalpa's (negative thought constructs) and vikrutis (imbalance born of doshas). Take the vrata (sacred vow) of silence tomorrow for 30 minutes, an hour, few hours or whole day. Soak in to newness of the moon. Your own mind.

Mark it in your calendars now! For annual dates of Mauni Amavasya, check here

May we enjoy the bathing, soaking of our mind fields with the mind fields of the Munis- the eternally quiet, content, still ones.

Special Tip: In the same context, when in the presence of a real teacher, focus more on what is conveyed in silence. Teaching of techniques is considered the first and lowest level of sharing as per the ancient texts. A real teacher teaches with the presence. This kind of teaching is considered sharing of the mind field as a subtle experience. Teachers own purified intelligence (Sva-bodha) becomes the silent teacher.

When the entire focus is on what is said then one loses the opportunity to learn from silence.

May you have a peaceful day of silence.

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